Amid bans, intimidation, the detention and interrogation of Crimean Tatars remembering the victims of the Deportation, there were moments on May 18 of moving solidarity. Under Russian occupation, some involved real courage.

The occupation regime in Crimea is actively detaining both journalists and Crimean Tatars taking part in traditional remembrance actions marking the 71st anniversary of the Deportation of the Crimean Tatar people

The swallow is a symbol of spring, of hope and renewal. And of return for those Crimean Tatars once again exiled from their homeland. Their Crimean home is now in red, as an SOS message to the entire civilized world, on behalf of those whose rights are being violated.

The occupation regime is once again, on this 71st anniversary of the Deportation, trying to prevent Crimean Tatars from gathering to honour their own parents, grandparents and other victims, and Mustafa Dzhemiliev believes provocations are possible

Crimeans, mostly Crimean Tatars, under Russian occupation are effectively being imprisoned without any elements of a crime, in most cases without any sign of a trial, with the lack of international reaction making them as defenceless as the many Crimean Tatars and Ukrainian activists who have disappeared without trace since Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

The occupation authorities’ alleged ‘new format’ for commemorative events on May 18, the anniversary of the 1944 Deportation of the entire Crimean Tatar People is so far following the repressive patterns seen since Russia’s annexation, with Crimean Tatars not only banned from holding the traditional remembrance gathering, but also facing formal ’warnings’ and overt attempts at intimidation

Ukraine’s parliament has adopted a resolution urging international bodies and all members of the international community to help put a stop to ongoing violations of Crimean Tatar rights

The trial is due to begin in Crimea of a 24-year-old man charged in connection with the May 3, 2014 peaceful protest against Russia’s ban on 71-year-old veteran Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemiliev entering his homeland

Just hours after threats from Crimea’s ‘prosecutor’ that Ukrainian ‘nationalists and radicals’ could expect to be jailed in Russian-occupied Crimea, claims have been made of a Ukrainian nationalist gang having been arrested and of ‘mass provocation’ planned around the anniversary of the Deportation of the Crimean Tatar People on May 18

Akhtem Chiygoz, Deputy Head of the Mejlis or Crimean Tatar representative assembly has gone on hunger strike in protest at being placed in a solitary confinement punishment cell. There are fears that the occupation regime may be planning a show trial of a leader of the Crimean Tatar national movement on the eve of the anniversary of the Deportation.

The organizers of an occupation regime version of the Spring Festival Hyrdelez are resorting to bribes after the Crimean Tatar Mejlis condemned the cynical attempt to divert attention from ongoing disappearances, arrests, deportations and other rights violations.

The arrest of TV ATR cameraman Eskender Nebiyev is the latest in a ‘case’, breaching both Russian and international law, where the occupation regime is clearly targeting Crimean Tatars, including Akhtem Chiygoz, Deputy Head of the Mejlis, or Crimean Tatar representative assembly.

Eskender Nebiyev, cameraman for ATR, the Crimean Tatar TV channel which Russia recently forced off air in Russian-occupied Crimea, is reported to have been detained on Monday after a search was carried out of his home. Initial reports suggest that he may be the latest person targeted in the notorious ’Feb 26, 2014 case’ involving a pre-annexation demonstration

The interrogations are proving as surreal as everything else in the so-called ‘Feb 26’ case where the occupation regime is prosecuting people under Russian law over a pre-annexation demonstration which took place under Ukrainian law. Another person has just been remanded in custody, and more arrests are unfortunately likely

Mustafa Asaba, Head of the Belgorod Regional Mejlis, has been detained and taken away to Simferopol after a search was carried out of his home. This is the second such search in the last 6 months making the reported attempt to plant ammunition on him especially cynical.

Less than a week after being elected First Deputy Head of the Mejlis, or Crimean Tatar representative assembly, Nariman Dzhelyal has been subjected to a five-hour interrogation and a search of his home.

Nariman Dzhelyal has been elected First Deputy Head of the Mejlis, against which the occupation regime in Crimea has been relentlessly waging an offensive since shortly after annexation. Ilmi Umerov was elected Deputy Head just hours after he became the latest member of the Mejlis to receive a formal summons to appear for interrogation

A fourth Crimean Tatar is in detention charged under Russian legislation in connection with a pre-annexation demonstration which took place under Ukrainian rule and according to Ukrainian law.

On March 11 armed men in masks burst into the home of 31-year-old Talyat Yunosov and took him away. This is the latest detention in one of the most cynical ‘cases’ initiated since Russia occupied Crimea as the charges relate to a protest which took place on Feb 26, 2014 - under Ukrainian rule and Ukrainian legislation.

Speaking of rights in Crimea under Russian occupation marks you as an ‘extremist’ or ‘agent’. That is how Eskender Bariev, head of the Crimean Tatar Rights Committee comments on the latest wave of interrogations of Crimean Tatar rights activists